emb021

I was first exposed to the game in NLS. The staff there did a great job, and the name of the game "Win All You Can" was changed during the course to finally say "You All Can Win", which is the true point of the game. But if the participants aren't paying attention, they won't notice it. (this was done both thru what the staff was saying, and well as 4 signs with those words that got changed during the course of the game). Then I staffed 21CWB which also used the game. Frankly I didn't think it was as well done. But as a newbie staff, there wasn't anything I could do. I was told they were doing the game the way it was shown at the WB CDC. But I still fealt they didn't do it well. My fraternity now incorporates a variation of it in one of our training courses (its one focused on conflict resolution- hmmm). Again, if its not done right, the lessons get lost. One thing I find missing from this version is the subtle name change done in NLS.

I believe the purpose of the game is to show that cooperation, rather then competition is what should be guiding us. The idea is the "You All Can Win", but only if you all cooperate. The mistake people playing the game is that each group is in competition with the others, when they should be cooperating. The mistake made is that each group is like their own company (where, yes, they should be competing), but that each group is part of a whole (patrols within a troop, committees within an org, departments within a company), and that as such, these subgroups should be working together for the overall group (unit, org, company) and not competing. Also, it has nothing to do with wealth generation or profit. You're playing a game and winning points, nothing more. HOW you play determines the points you get.

Some other additions. There is a small booklet on what the District is called "The District" (#33070). there is another called "The Council" (#33071). These books help explain what the council & district does in a general way, but each council can be a little different. A new book is "District Operation: A Handbook for District Operations" (#34739). There is ALSO a full day training session for District volunteers. But not all councils are good at providing it. In most cases, the District Committee has people who mirror many council committees: Training, Advancement, Camping, PR, etc. In pretty much all cases, these district people automatically sit on the council committees. One thing to keep in mind is that seldom is one just 'on the district committee'. Most are there for a particular job. Have you been asked to do a particular job? Do you know what you will specifically be doing? That's kind of important.

"When other folks found out about this, there were many unhappy calls to the COR. The COR doesn't think he has the authority to remove him, so he asked for commitee meeting for a vote. There are some committee members, who probably couldn't pick out a single kid in the troop if they weren't in uniform, that think this is being handled the wrong way. The CC has followed the directives of the COR and District Commissioner and is getting beat up." Problem sounds like you have a committee that doesn't understand how things work. The COR has firing authority over every adult in the troop. There is nothing the committee gets to vote on. Sounds like that if there is a meeting, it should be geared NOT around 'taking a vote', but around how a troop committee really should operate.

"I also expect my audience to be familiar with the Ventruing program" I've found that you can't expect that. Thus the need to go over the high-level basics of Venturing, and encourage them to consider attending Venturing Leader Specific Training for more indepth info. Its important that Commissioner have a decent understand of what Venturing is (and isn't) so they can better serve their units. Simple as that.

I have seen a list of the merit badges that were offered in 2005. As I recall, almost all merit badges were offered.

I had to do a similiar session. I basically mined my data on Venturing, and did a sort of hour-long intro to Venturing, but geared to what I felt the commissioners should know. I found a presentation someone else did aimed at Commissioners, and did some updating and minor revisions and used it. Some of the areas I touched on: * What is Venturing (including crews specializing, uniform, etc) * Crew operations (how crew is organized) * Venturing advancement (plus how Venturers can earn Eagle) * Venturing training (youth & adult) At many points I had to emphasis how Venturing is different from Cub/Boy Scouting.

Actually, one of the councils I work with came out with a new CSP with a new design (similiar to their new logo) and using one of the new CSP shape (half moon shape). As I wasn't aware that was a new shape, I thought it was an improper design. But both this patch and the prior CSP are sold. Either can be worn in the council, on either the old or new uniform. I am curious if they will get rid of the commissioner CSP which is oversized.

"BSA is updating the Boy Scout and Venturing uniforms for the centennial." the BSA already updated the Boy Scout uniform for the centennial. There is no update planned for the Venturing uniform. They are just finally rolling out the gray switchbacks, but that's not as big a deal as some think. I do like the new Venturing belt and will probably get it.

"I felt the UoS was an oversized Pow-Wow with BS Roundtable and Basic Training thrown in for good measure." Think to keep in mind is that there is no national standard for UoS. Each council does their own, and the quality and presentation can vary widely. Some use it as just a means to provide standard training (basic and many supplemental stuff). Some go beyond that to develop excellent training courses for the different BSA programs. Many go further to add in a 'degree program' to encourage future attendence (ie take certain courses each year and get a degree- bachelor, masters, etc).

because the plaid is part of Webelos. The Webelos scraf has the plaid.

AFAIK, in most councils, Pow-Wow is strickly a Cub Scouter event, while UOS is aimed at all scouters as supplemental training.

Some of the issue is a matter of 'logic' more so then 'policy'. I think it a little dishonest to wear a NOAC flap if you didn't attend that NOAC. (I am assuming this 'trader' flap does specify that its for NOAC?) Its the same as if you where to wear a NOAC patch for a NOAC you didn't attend. Same goes for wearing an lodge anniversary flap from before you joined, or even an old lodge flap from before you joined. Now, some lodges may have a policy (most likely set down in their Lodge Rules/Bylaws) that the current flap is what is worn. This is done as a way to 'catch' people who joined in the past, but never kept up their membership. And prehaps get them to pay up their dues. My lodge did, so I am always in the habit of wearing the current lodge flap, regardless of how 'poor' a design it might be. But then you also have old members (sometimes very old) who continue to wear their original flap or the like). Now, in my area, most lodges change their flap every 2-3 years, so even if we have a bad design, we will soon get another, hopefully better one. Frankly, I've also gotten out of the habit of bothering with wearing NOAC, Jambo, and Section Conference host flaps.

First off, its "VenturING Crew", not "Venture Crew". You need a minimum of 5 Venturers registered as "primary" in your crew. HOWEVER, it really doesn't matter whether a youth is primary in the crew or troop when it comes to Eagle. If they are registered in both, they can decide which one to go with. If they get their Eagle in the troop, they need to have held a POR in the troop, and been reviewed by the scoutmaster. If they get it in the crew, they need to have held a POR in the crew and been reviewed by the advisor.

Any such change is atleast half a year away. As I doubt it will be a radical change, I really wouldn't get too concerned. the last time they made a change, it was to make some changes in the alternate list (where you had to get one of 2-3 different merit badges). Not certain if a scout is Life working toward Eagle if he can continue to use the list of required merit badges at the time and not have to change.

I have no idea if national tracks those kind of statistics. I think National is provided with who is being presented with the Silver Beaver, but may not be able to verify that information. I have to ask: why is that important? I am also surprised that someone that young did get it. The Silver Beaver is for doing service to scouting at a council level. An ASM has to be doing a LOT of stuff to be so recognized. Even a SM at that age getting it would be rare.

Are you speaking of a Unit Committee Chair vs a Council/District Committee? Unit Committee Chairs are selected by the Chartered Organization, and are usually appointed/approved by the Chartered Organization Rep (who is selected by the Institutional Head of the chartered org). This is covered in the literature. Not sure what you are looking for. Its not something esoteric or complex.

"I believe that any Eagle Scout should have the right to wear the Eagle patch on their uniform into their adulthood - 18 or over. The knots should represent an award earned as an adult. Boy Scouts are allowed to wear their Arrow of Light patch on their uniform, even though that is earned as a Webelos and not as a Boy Scout. Same should be true for the Eagle Patch." Uh, that IS the policy. Wear the patch until you turn 18, then wear the knot.

" 1) We know that the religious emblem he earned as a Cub he can wear on his uniform but what about the devices? He earned two levels, one as a Wolf and another as a Webelos, so is he allowed to wear the two devices on the knot as a Boy Scout?" Yes. That's the purpose of the knot devices: to indicate that you have earned multiple awards. He has earned a first-level (cub scout) and 2nd-level (webelos scout) awards. So he can wear the cub scout and webelos scout knot devices all the time on his knot. When/if he earns the 3rd level (boy scout) and/or 4th level (older boy scout/venturer) he can wear the boy scout and venturer device to indicate those. This is explained in the insignia guide. " 2) On the merit badge sash we know that he cant sew on previous rank insignia but he would like to sew on his Patrol Leader and Den Chief patches on the back of the sash along with the other temporary insignia. Is that allowed?" No. You can only wear merit badges and temporary patches (event patches) on the sash. No rank. No past office. No 'other awards' (world conservation award, 50 miler, historical trails, lifeguard bsa, etc). In regards to the temporary insiginia, all you listed would be fine.

"it is the Battle of the Bulge Historical Trail patch. The TransAtlantic Council created it to recognize Boy Scouts that completed the requirements. So would that be considered a temporary patch?" Yes, it would be considered a temporary patch and worn on the right pocket. As scoutldr noted, usually one does not wear patches earned/received as a Cub Scout on a Boy Scout uniform (exceptions are AOL and the religious awards/knot). There is no restriction regarding temporary patches, its more of a general practice. If he wants to wear it, there is nothing preventing him.

Most churches have co-ed sunday school classes. Most churches have co-ed youth groups. In fact, most church-sponsored Venturing Crews are pretty much just an extension of their youth group. Does your church segregate these by gender? Have you shown them the BSA's youth protection policies and such? These should help them understand the policies they can follow to allay concerns of impropriety.

AFAIK, Packs don't adopt their own neckware. That's only true for scout troops. There are standard neckerchiefs for Bear and Wolf Cubs, and the Webelos Scouts. Those are what they are expected to wear. For adults in a cub pack, it would probably be nothing, the Den Leader necker, a bolo, or other neckerchief you are entitled to wear (WB participant or WB necker, etc). Please don't use the term 'venture' when refering to Venturing. They aren't interchangable. By and large, neckerchiefs aren't worn in Venturing, but I know of some crews that may use them.

There is a loose heirarchy of training. Keep in mind that there are 3-4 levels of training: * Immediate (Fast Start) * Basic (includes position-specific training) * Supplemental (all forms of 'additional' training, which range from hour-long sessions to week-long sessions, and be on-line or 'live. This includes the various 'safety' courses, any 'university of scouting' programs, Philmont/Sea Base training courses, etc) * Advanced (Wood Badge, Powder Horn, Seabadge) Some training is for youth (TLT, NYLT, NAYLE, Kodiak, Kodiak/X, etc). Adults really only 'take' this training to be able to deliver it to the youth. You take the training that you need (Basic) and any supplemental training that will help you in your position, whatever it may be, along with the appropriate advanced training when it becomes available.

"If national wants to change the requirements to reflect the registered=active standard, they can dang well do it. I believe we are about to get new handbooks later in the summer, right? That will be a good opportunity to make the change. Until then, they'll have to over rule our troop's active=active standard on appeal." Sorry, but National already did that. That's been policy for some time. And been a topic of conversation on-line the whole while. Bottom line. active=registered. Any troop with some kind of 'active standard' WILL be overruled should a scout appeal it to a higher authority. Hence why units are recommended (thru the FAQ noted) to not do it.

Eagle92- Yes, I would agree that National was not clear with what unit numbers cub scouter should wear. To me, it was clear. If you are a cub scout/webelos scout in blue or in venturing (ie wearing the forest green), you wear red/white. If you were wearing the centennial tan, regardless of the program, wear the green/khaki. But somehow this wasn't acceptable to some leaders. Am sorry, but I never understood the 'logic' that a cub scouter needs to wear the same color unit numbers as a cub scout to maintain some connection. And you left out the red/khaki numbers that appeared in literature from National Supply for about a month recently, then quickly disappeared. But, hey, NS has made mistakes regarding the uniform before. Witness the issue of the Lodge Chief office patch or the Regional/National Chief patches. I sometimes wonder if the National reorg, but eliminated some organizational roadblocks just created new ones... Now, I can understand to some degree the issue of uniformity within a troop, but, please, I went thru this as a scout when we switched to the ODR uniform from the old green-khaki one, and units had youth and adults in different ones. If it wasn't an issue for us back then, why should it be an issue with different color loops/numbers? I would think the loops would be more of a standout then the numbers, and should be easy to replace. Replacing ALL the red with green seems a better solution (and cheaper) then going the other way. Oh, you expected National to explain their reasoning??? You haven't been in scouting long enough! And the idea that they made a mistake back with the ODL giving the Boy Scouts red loops is something that only recently popped up. If they did or not, no one brought it up back then. Me, I have my Venturing uniforms and my Sea Scouter uniforms and I'm ok. I also plan on getting that new Venturing belt. I have the first venturing web belt, but rarely wore it. I usually wear my Philmont belt/buckle, or sometimes my WOSM belt. I'll probably wear the new Venturing web belt now and then.